Patterns of Support Service, Emergency Department, and Hospital Utilization in Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Descriptive Study.

Context: Palliative care in oncology provides multiple benefits, however access to specialty palliative clinicians is limited in community cancer centers. Individual support services are more often available, but little is known on the utilization and impact of these services.

Objectives: To describe the utilization of outpatient support services in the advanced cancer population and the association with ED and hospital use in a community setting.